5 ways to avoid car seat hip (& other mum injuries)

I’ve tried all sorts of things to ease mum-related aches and pains over the years ranging from swimming to reflexology to yoga, and this time I’m trying out a spot of progressive physio (such a thing does indeed exist!)

With that in mind today I’m bringing you a guest post from progressive sports therapist Jamie Webbat Brighton Sports Therapy, where I’ve been for treatment, who reckons car seat hip and other mum injuries can be avoided by following a few simple steps.

5 ways to avoid car seat hip (& other mum injuries)

1. Don’t hitch the hip.

Varying conditions come from mothers carrying their babies on a hiked up hip and this only gets worse as the baby gets heavier. Pass the baby to someone else at every available opportunity! Put the baby down whenever possible. If you really need to do something and your baby doesn’t want to be put down pop your baby in a carrier and do it with baby on the front.

2. Don’t try to be super mum.

Don’t do too much. Stress plays a huge role in the pain we feel in our bodies. Make sure you give yourself time to still be yourself. Even if it’s just the odd soak in the bath for half an hour or a sit down and a read with a nice cup of tea. Try and get out to see some friends without baby in tow. Anything that you enjoy doing preferably without baby in tow.

3. Keep active.

The body was designed to move, not stay in and watch Netflix! If you don’t use your muscles they will stiffen and tighten and possibly lead to pain. As soon as you’re able to get out there, do. Start with walking and progress back to your favourite sport as soon as you feel you are able. Listen to your body and it will tell you what you’re ready for. Trust your instincts.

4. Chillax and get things checked.

Don’t worry about things. If your body doesn’t feel right don’t sweat it. Definitely don’t Google it. That will scare the living daylights out of you. Seek advice from someone in the know before you build things up in your head. 99% of post pregnancy issues are easily solvable and not threatening in the long term. Peace of mind is a lovely thing.

5. Do your pelvic floor exercises.

Even if you feel fine and don’t feel the need. It may well be different when you start running again. You may end up having problems holding in that wee! Start off with a very simple exercise laying on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. In this position practice contracting those pelvic floor muscles. A great progression is to do this whilst squeezing a ball between your knees at the same time.

Jamie says: “By doing all of the above you’ll massively reduce the risk of any post-natal issues. And if you do have issues doing the above will reduce the severity and make it easier for therapists like us sort the problem out.”

The question is, did Jamie manage to fix me? Watch this space to find out!

Did you find yourself suffering from nagging aches and pains after becoming a parent? Have you ever suffered from car seat hip, breastfeeding shoulder or nappy changing back? I’d love to know!

3 Comments

Oh, I need to do my pelvic floor exercises much more often! I’m so lazy about it! Thanks for all of these tips. Fortunately, I don’t think I’ve had any postnatal injuries. I hope I’m safe now that my youngest is 2! #thelistlinky

I am always holding my little ones on my hips, they’re two & three now and are getting way too heavy! I also have a bad back & wrist, from leaning down picking up toys all the time! Haha. I’m not even kidding

I’ve always had back problems but they got so much worse with my second. Now that nappies have come to an end though I’m noticing a big improvement. After a trampoline related incident I definitely recommend those pelvic floor exercises!
#TheListLinky

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I'm a wife, mother, freelance journalist & blogger. Not necessarily in that order. Join me as I navigate the previously unchartered territory of motherhood always safe in the knowledge there's a bottle of wine in the fridge...

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